Road to Kanab with readers Dale and Gary Anderson

By Sandy Marwick Eagle Focus Editor

September 13, 2008 Last Updated: September 13, 2008 10:49 AM Community

Dale and her husband,Gary, stand before the Grand Canyon while enjoying their vacation in July.

A vacation goes to the dogs ... & cats

Using a blue magic marker to denote their trip on a map, Gary and Dale Anderson draw a complex series of loops and curves to recreate their driving route from Las Vegas.

Documenting all points fascinating, the Andersons produce stacks of photos showing the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and other popular sites in the West.

Among the ranks of July tourists, the Andersons can describe many attractions. But they speak most passionately about their weeklong stay off the beaten path, where animals — not people — are valued as guests.

"A couple of times I said, 'If I were a cat, I would never want to leave here,'" Dale said, describing the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in southern Utah.

"Their motto is 'A better world through kindness to animals,' and that's exactly what they do."

As the primary part of their trip, the Franklin Township couple volunteered at Best Friends, the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals.

Located in Kane County about 5 miles from the town of Kanab, the complex consists of close to 60 buildings scattered over about 350 acres out of a 3,700-acre property inAngel Canyon.

"We never dreamed the place was going to be so gorgeous," Dale noted, describing the rugged red canyon, textured with rock cliffs and dotted with pinyon and juniper trees.

Buildings include a welcome center and gift shop as well as specific "villages" to house dogs, cats, bunnies, birds, horses, sheep, goats and pot-bellied pigs. Although many animals, like cats and birds, are housed in larger, common buildings, the dogs typically are housed in groups of three to six in individual octagons that open to outdoor runs.Also included are cottages, which human visitors can rent during their stay as volunteers.The Andersons describe the accommodations as modest. They are decorated with photos of the animals, Dale said, and their simplicity reinforces the sanctuary's goal of using its resources toward helping animals.Although self-described cat lovers, the Andersons split their time between working in Dogtown Heights, defined in the literature as "a gated community" and Cat World, "where you'll always have a close encounter of the feline kind."Tasks included puppy socialization, walking dogs and cleaning and sanitizing the buildings and grounds."The floors are swept, scrubbed and squeegied," Gary said.The Andersons also spent time splitting pills for animals on medication and on grooming cats, which Gary said were quick to befriend anyone who approached them with a brush.

According to Barbara Williamson, media relations manager at the sanctuary, tasks like brushing and petting play a key role at the sanctuary.With the nonprofit sanctuary currently at capacity, many of the facility's roughly 2,000 animals were taken in after lack of success elsewhere."These are homeless pets," Williamson said."They're looking to go home. The more attention they get here at the sanctuary, it helps them get more adoptable."In the case of dogs, a color-coded collaring system shows at a glance the level to which an animal has been socialized.The most well socialized dogs, called trustees, are allowed to wander the grounds during daylight hours, welcoming sanctuary visitors. Dogs with special handling needs are limited to contact with staff — with many levels of progress in between.The sanctuary has an overnight program in which volunteers can "check out" a dog for a sleepover, taking the animal back to their quarters along with its overnight bag.Susan Sowa, a worker at Linda Lea's Cafe and Bakery in Kanab, said the cafe is among many hotels and eateries in town that welcome the borrowed dogs as guests."All dogs are welcome on our outdoor patio," Sowa said."We provide water and doggie treats anytime of the year."

A similar response comes from Ron Bean, owner of Grandma Tina's restaurant."There are a lot of dogs here," commented Bean, noting health regulations prohibit the eateries, at least, from blatantly advertising service to animals.It is not surprising the town has adapted to canine guests, however, since according to Williamson, the sanctuary alone gets about 27,000 visitors a year."Out of that, about 4,500 volunteer," she added."The number has been increasing every single year since I've been here, which is almost six years now."Williamson said although "volun-tourism" is typically the sanctuary's biggest draw, the landscape also plays a role."We are in the middle of what we call the Golden Circle of national parks," she said, listing attractions within a day's drive or less. Those include the north rim of the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon and Lake Powell."We're also less than an hour from the Grand Staircase National Monument," she added.Even nearby Kanab — population 3,564 at the 2000 census — contains the sets of several Western movies and attracts hikers to the Squaw Peak trail, which overlooks the town."You see scenery that is just breathtaking," Williamson said.But for the Andersons, working at the sanctuary was entertainment enough."Basically, we were there the whole week," Dale said."You couldn't not be — you got so caught up working."Williamson said the sanctuary, now celebrating 25 years, welcomes many repeat volunteers. And the Andersons met some who relocated to Kanab in retirement to help on a regular basis.

Much of the appeal, Dale said, stemmed from the dedication of sanctuary founders."There's no 'We're the administrators.' They're right there working," she said.As a nonprofit, the sanctuary charges a fee of about $70 per night to stay in the limited housing on site, and a $4 vegetarian lunch is served in the cafeteria each day."You're on your own for breakfast and dinner," Dale said, noting the guests are never pressured to make donations.The Andersons said when first arriving at the welcome center, visitors are treated to a van tour of the sanctuary and encouraged to visit attractions nearby.A coordinator helps establish a work schedule based on each volunteer's preferences."You didn't get the feeling they were sticking you with the crappy jobs," Dale said.Dirty jobs or not, the Andersons plan to visit Best Friends again in the future. The 90-plus degree summer heat, however, will likely prompt them to go in cooler months.For those unable to visit Utah, Williamson recommends helping in local shelters and sanctuaries, where countless animals are left without homes."There are a lot of good people across the country — good rescue groups and good people that are out there on the front lines — helping animals day in and day out," Williamson said."You may have an amazing rescue group in your own backyard. Don't overlook what's out there in your own community."

Gary and Dale Anderson are cat lovers who live in Franklin Township. Gary retired in 1998 from Butler Junior High School, where he taught American history and public speaking. Dale retired in 2001 from Clearfield Township Elementary School, where she taught remedial reading. The couple learned about Best Friends in 2003 after the death of their cat Tootsie. Their daughter, Joy Ostaffe of West Palm Beach, Fla., put a memorial ad for Tootsie in the Best Friends magazine.

Gary and Dale Anderson live in Franklin Township. Gary retired in 1998 from Butler Junior High School, where he taught American history and public speaking. Dale retired in 2001 from Clearfield Township Elementary School, where she taught remedial reading. The couple learned about Best Friends in 2003 after the death of their cat, Tootsie.

WHAT: "DogTown," an hourlong television series focusing on dogs housed at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary near Kanab, Utah.WHEN: Upcoming episodes to air at 12 p.m. Sunday and 6 p.m. FridayWHERE: The National Geographic channelINFO: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/tv-schedule

LOCATION: Just north of the Arizona border, Kanab is the county seat of Kane County, Utah, situated in the Grand Circle of national monuments that include Bryce Canyon National Park, the Grand Canyon's North Rim and Zion National Park. Elevation is 4,950 feet.POPULATION: About 5,000WEATHER: The average high is 93 and low 58 degrees in summer; high 47 and low 22 in winter.POINTS OF INTEREST: Kanab is situated 5 miles from the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the nation's largest companion animal sanctuary, and home to historic movie sets, having once been a popular filming location for Westerns.Kanab is 40 miles from Zion National Park, 73 miles from Lake Powell, 14 miles from the Grand Staircase and 23 miles from the Coral Pink Sand Dunes.LINKS: www.kanabchamber.com/, www.kaneutah.com/, www.bestfriends.org/

Dale Anderson handles a canine friend while volunteering at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

HELPINGOUT — In this photograph, provided by the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah, a volunteer helps feed the horses. The sanctuary reports it receives 27,000 visitors annually, and about 4,500 of them volunteer.

Dale Anderson said she and her husband plan to return to the animal sanctuary, but maybe not in the 90-plus degree summer heat.

The entrance to the Best Friends AnimalSanctuary cemetery for those that have passedon.

Best Friends Park - submitted photos - requested by Focus - Gale & Dale Anderson vacation in Utah - Pub date 9/14/08

The quarters where the Andersons stayed on the grounds. In all, The sanctuary has nearly 60 buildings scattered over about 350 acres on a 3,700 acre property. Housing for visitors, however, is limited.